Culmore Community Library will have only a couple of weeks to enjoy 2026 before shuttering for the remainder of the new year.
Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) announced yesterday (Monday) that its Bailey’s Crossroads branch will close to the public on Jan. 17, 2026 to allow “significant” repairs and upgrades to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
The building’s parking lot and grounds at 6101 Knollwood Drive will be off limits during the closure, which is expected to last about a year. FCPL says it hopes to reopen the library in January 2027.
“We understand that the temporary closure may cause inconvenience and appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work to improve our facilities for the long-term benefit of our patrons,” Fairfax County Public Library Director Eric Carzon said, thanking the county’s facility management department for handling the project.
Named after former president Woodrow Wilson until last year, Culmore Library got its start as a storefront in the Culmore Shopping Center in 1961 before opening a permanent building at its current site in 1967.
The library underwent a renovation more than a decade ago, reopening in March 2015, but heating and cooling issues have plagued the location “for many years,” Carzon said in a statement to FFXnow.
“After trying several fixes and temporary solutions, the County concluded in the Spring of 2022 that a complete replacement was the most effective solution,” Carzon said. “Unfortunately, such a replacement is a very complex endeavor, and it has taken three years to assemble the funding and necessary permits to allow the permanent solution to go forward.”
A functioning HVAC system is particularly critical given that libraries and other county facilities are designated cooling centers, providing temporary shelter and supplies during extreme heat. While summer in the D.C. region has always been muggy, the number of days with high heat and humidity has climbed in recent decades as the climate change continues to unfold.
Before Culmore Library officially closes for the HVAC repair project, some materials might become unavailable as they’re transferred to other branches or storage, FCPL says. Meeting room reservations will be cut off after Jan. 16.
During the closure, Culmore’s staff will be shifted to other locations, and patrons are encouraged to visit alternate branches. The closest ones to Bailey’s Crossroads are the George Mason Regional Library in Annandale, Tysons-Pimmit Regional in Pimmit Hills and Thomas Jefferson Library in West Falls Church.
“Staff at any branch can assist customers with redirecting holds for pick up at nearby locations and materials may be picked up at or returned to any FCPL branch,” the county library system noted. “Digital library resources, including e-books, audiobooks, and online databases, remain available 24/7 to all cardholders via the library’s website.”
For now, Culmore Library remains open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Like other community branches, it’s closed on Sundays.
